Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing

Cardiovascular disease continues to be a medical concern affecting millions globally. 17.9 million people die each year from cardiovascular disease (CVD), representing 32% of all deaths worldwide, (World Health Organization, 2021). Despite medical evidence and continuous awareness efforts in treating CVD, people continue to engage in behaviors and lifestyles that ultimately increase their risk of developing CVD. In effort to help curtail the incline of heart disease, the aim of this quality improvement project was to increase CVD awareness, knowledge of personal atherosclerosis cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk profile and encourage behavior modifications that lead to overall risk reduction. This was achieved by individualized educational sessions on cardiovascular health, discussion of lifestyle modification that reduces risk of developing ASCVD and undergoing CT CAC scores. Pre-test scores of CVD knowledge tool improved from a mean score of 40.66 to post-test mean score of 100, demonstrating that 100% of all participants showed increased knowledge of CVD, based on an alpha level of .05, [F(1, 48) = 55.02, p < .001]. In addition, risk modifying behaviors such as dietary choice improved after undergoing CAC scores and attending educational sessions. The mean of Unhealthy/Processed Food-Pre-Test was 3, denoting consumption of beverages with added sugars, fried and/or processed foods, at least 1-2 times per week, whereas post interventions mean score was 1.17, corresponding to consumption of unhealthy foods once per month or less, based on an alpha level of .05, [V = 168.00, z = -3.66, p < .001]. Lastly, the project demonstrated that understanding cardiovascular disease and associated ASCVD risk obtained by CT CAC scores led to increase in exercise and medication adherence.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), involving abuse, neglect, and violence exposure, have been connected to undesirable physical and mental health consequences across the life span. With regards to the range of factors that moderates the impact of ACEs on life course health, resilience is suggested as a quality that can lead to better health and quality of life outcomes. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between adult-reported ACEs, resilience, and mental and physical health in Saudi Arabia. The study was a predictive/correlational design. A total of 328 participants completed the online questionnaire through (Qualtrics). The independent variables were ACEs and resilience while the dependent variable was physical and mental health. The variables were measured by: 1) The ACE International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ). 2) The Physical and Mental Health Checklist. 3) The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale -25 (CD-RISC-25). Descriptive statics showed that 97% of participants were medically diagnosed with some health illnesses and they were under the age of 45 years old.

The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of technology perception and caring nurse-patient interactions on patient safety culture from the perception of critical care nurses in Saudi Arabia and to assess the mediating role of compassion fatigue on the relationship between technology perception and patient safety culture and between caring nurse-patient interactions and patient safety culture. A cross-sectional study was conducted in July and August 2022, in three hospitals located in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia. A convenience, purposive sample of critical care nurses who provides direct care to patients in critical care units, stepdown, and emergency departments were recruited. one hundred and eighty-three nurse participated in this study with an overall response rate of 51.69%. Nurse participants completed the Survey of Patient Safety Culture for Hospitals, the Technological Influences Questionnaire subscale of the Caring Attributes, Professional Self-Concept, and Technological Influences scale, the Caring Nurse-Patient Interactions scale, and the Compassion Fatigue subscale from the ProQOL scale which contained the Secondary Traumatic Stress and Burnout subscales. Descriptive statistics and a linear regression model were used to analyze the research data. A significant relationship was found between technology perception and patient safety culture and between caring nurse patient interaction and patient safety culture. There is no significant mediating role of the Secondary Traumatic Stress on the relationship between technology perception and patient safety culture and between caring nurse patient interaction and patient safety culture. The burnout has a full mediating effect on the relationship between technology perception and patient safety culture and a partial mediating effect on the relationship between caring nurse patient interaction and patient safety culture. The research findings have established the foundation of the relationship between nursing caring factors (perception of technology and caring nurse-patient interaction) and patient safety culture. However, more research is needed to understand the direct effect of these relationships on patient outcomes.

Global research on family caregivers’ experiences with individuals who have serious mental illnesses has increased in different cultures. However, less research has been conducted on caregivers’ experiences within cultural contexts by using transcultural theory. Further, limited studies explored family caregivers’ lived experiences of people with serious mental illnesses in Saudi Arabia. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of family caregivers of persons with serious mental illnesses in Saudi Arabia in a home environment. Guided by Ray’s (2016) Transcultural Caring Dynamics in Nursing and Health-Care Model and Diekelmann’s seven-stage analysis, this study interpreted the meaning of the family caregivers’ lived experiences for individuals with serious mental illness within Saudi Arabia. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and demographic data with participants. Participants included 10 males and 5 females, who ranged in age from 24 to 53 years. Fourteen of the participants were siblings. The meaning of families’ lived experiences was interpreted as a multidimensional process within Saudi culture in the constitutive pattern of the dynamic of an endless cycle of care. Three relational themes and 11 sub-themes were categorized to capture the multidimensional nature of the phenomenon: (a) development of caring experiences (formation of knowledge and Allah/spirituality); (b) living culture values and beliefs (societal views, caregivers’ beliefs and attitudes, caregiver in family, impact of social media, caregiver as financially supportive, and mental health care services); and (c) meaning of care ( being available, expressing love, and being present). This study's findings offer implications for nursing education, nursing practice, health policy, and future research recommendations.

Stroke is a major health problem in Saudi Arabia that impacts the health outcomes of adults and elderly persons. No matter its severity, stroke is a stressful life event not only for the survivors but their family caregivers as well. Uncertainty is one of the major problems facing family caregivers caring for persons with a stroke. Uncertainty affects overall health outcomes and the quality of life of family caregivers caring for persons with strokes. Current research has not yet identified the meaning of the uncertainty of family caregivers of persons with strokes during hospitalization in Saudi Arabia. The purpose of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of the meaning of uncertainty experienced by family caregivers of persons in the hospital who have survived strokes.
This study used a phenomenological design. Data were collected through in-depth face-to-face and online semi-structured interviews with 15 family caregivers using openended questions. Participants were recruited from inpatient medical units and stroke care units in multi acute care hospitals in Saudi Arabia. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, translated, and analyzed using the hermeneutic phenomenological unitary caring research method. NVivo software (Version 12) was used to manage the qualitative data.

Providing family caregiving during transitional care of a stroke patient is the most challenging for family caregivers. This is because of the shift in the care environment from a hospital with an organizational culture to a home with a traditional culture. Yet, cultural influences on family caregiving during transitional care are not well studied. This ethnographic study aims to describe the family caregiving of older Thai-Isan stroke survivors through the transition from hospital to home. This study employs Lininger's culture care theory (CCT) as the theoretical framework and utilizes the ethnonursing method to discover cultural knowledge. Data was collected through a demographic questionnaire, participant observations, and a semi-structured interview. Data was analyzed using the Four Phases of the Data Analysis Enabler. Fifteen dyads of older stroke patients and their family caregivers were recruited following the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The research settings included Srinagarind Hospital units and key informants’ homes in a Thai-Isan community.